Johannesburg - Since he was a child he wanted to be a superhero.
Now 34, Achmat Hassiem, aka Sharkboy, has made his dream come true.
When he lost his leg to a shark bite in 2006, the sportsman turned the situation to his advantage and realised another lifelong dream – to represent South Africa at the Olympics.
Hassiem took to the pool after the attack and first swam in the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, then won a bronze medal in London in 2012.
But Sharkboy’s real super-power isn’t in the pool but in front of people, relaying his passion for the very thing that left him limbless.
“I want to give back to the shark. It was a shark that helped me realise my dreams and I owe it to these endangered sea creatures,” said Hassiem, who has joined The Pew Charitable Trusts as an ambassador.
Sri Lanka, Maldives and Fiji brought an application to have mobula rays and thresher and silky sharks listed on Appendix II at this week’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora climate conference, CoP17, in Sandton. The listing would ensure trade in the sharks’ body parts are regulated. Fifty countries have backed the submission, and one of Sharkboy’s aims is to lobby for South Africa to join them.
“I want South Africa to be a champion for the sharks, just like the shark was a champion for me. South Africa is behind me when I compete in the Paralympics, now I want my home country to stand up.”
He said the global demand for shark fins far exceeded the supply and the population had declined by up to 70 percent.
Hassiem grew up in Strandfontein Village in Cape Town, where the ocean was a part of his life. “My father was a fisherman. My brother just medalled at the International lifesaving champs in Europe.”
Hassiem gives motivational talks around the world. This week, he can be found in the exhibition hall at CoP17 talking about his beloved sharks.
Over the past four months, governments have taken part in workshops to solidify support for the shark proposals. The applications came before the committee on Monday, and working groups will discuss the submissions before the vote next week.